Conductor support for lift bridges and the like



Oct. 1, 1929. 'w. G. WILLIAMS CONDUCTOR SUPPORT FOR LIFT BRIDGES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 1'7, 1927 Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PArEN'r orricn WILLIAlaI G. WILLIAMS, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WA'DDELL 8c HAR- DESTY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COPARTNERSI-IIP COIZE RISIIIG JOE-IN A. L. WAD- DELL AND SHORTRIDGE HARDES'EY CONDUCTOR SUPPORT FOR LIFT BRIDGES All'D THE LIKE Application filed February 17, 1327. Serial No. 168,968.

In lift bridges which are operated by a motor on the lift span, the power has been carried from the stationary end supports by sliding contacts or controls or by electric cables which (having one end carried by the bridge tower and the other end connected to the motor) hang in loops when the lift spa-n moves up and are liable to be damaged by high winds and ice or snow.

My invention provides an arrangement for taking up the slack of electric conductors or analogous power lines in all positions of the left span.

The accompanying drawing illustrates diagrammatically one arrangement embodying the invention.

The lift span 1 is arranged to rise and fall between end towers 2. In a cabin 3 at the center there is an electric motor actuating 0 drums l which operate cables 5 and turn drums 6 carried on the ends of the span, which drums are connected to cables 7 fastened at their upper and lower ends to the bases of the towers, so that as the drums 6 are rotated the span is lifted or lowered. Counterweighting means are generally employed but these and other common details are omitted from the drawing for the sake of clearness. It will be understood also that various other types of lifting apparatus may be used.

The current is carried to the cabin by way of a conductor 8 which extends from the land side up to the top of one of the towers and thence down to the cabin. On top of the span and extending above the cabin is a rocking arm 9. Supporting ropes 10 are fastened to the top of the tower and extend therefrom to the top of the rocker or bent 9. The conductor 8 is supported at intervals along the supporting rope 10 until it passes therefrom into the cabin. The rocker 9 is pivoted at its lower end and has attached to its upper end a rope 11 which passes down over a pulley 12 and carries at its free end a weight 13. There may be two such weights supported from cords at opposite sides of the span, or they may be arranged in a variety of ways according to circumstances.

As the span rises, the weight or weights 13 pull the rocker 9 to the right, as shown in the dotted line position, so as to keep the supporting rope 1O taut and with it the conductor 8. The weighted tension rope 11 may be carried from the top of the bent to various other points of the movable span or even to the right-hand tower. The conductor might be carried directly to the upper end of the rocker, though generally it will be preferable to have the separate supporting rope shown for taking the longitudinal strains and carrying the conductor without any tension on the latter. In either case the conductor is maintained substantially taut, that is without the usual freely hanging loops.

Various modifications may be made with out departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lift bridge including in combination a lift span and towers, lifting means comprising a motor carried by the lift span, a power cable having one end carried by a bridge tower and the other end connected to said motor and means engaging the cable between said ends for holding itsubstantially taut.

2. A lift bridge including in combination a lift span and towers, lifting means compris ing a motor carried by the lift span, a power cable having one end carried by a bridge tower and the other end connected to said motor, a supporting rope for the cable, and means for engaging the end of the supporting rope for holding it and the cable substantially taut.

3. A lift bridge including in combination a lift span, lifting means comprising a motor carried by the lift span, a power cable leading from a fixed support to said motor, a rocking member supporting the power cable at a point between the fixed support and the motor and means for automatically rocking said arm to hold said portion of the power cable substantially taut the span moves.

4. A lift bridge including in combination a lift span, lift-ing means comprising a motor carried by the lift span, a power cable leading from a fixed support to said motor, a rocking arm carried on top of the movable span and supporting the portion of the power cable be tween the fixed support and the motor and a weight for rocking said arm to hold said portion of the power cable substantially taut as the span moves.

5. A lift bridge including in combination end towers, a lift span between them, a motor carried on said span for lifting it, a power cable leading from an upper point of one of the towers to said motor, a rocking bent carried on the top of the lift span, a supporting rope extending from the same tower to the free end of said bent and supporting the power cable between the tower and the motor and means for rocking said bent to hold the supporting rope and the cable substantially taut as the span moves.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WVILLIAM G. WVILLIAMS. 

